The Nashville Predators took another center in Thomas Novak with the 85th overall selection in the 3rd round. Novak comes from Waterloo of the USHL.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Nashville selects center Thomas Novak from Waterloo of the USHL with the 85th pick. 14 goals, 48 points in 46 games last season.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/614819858027552773″>June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Novak has committed to the University of Minnesota for next year.</p>— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) <a href=”https://twitter.com/AdamVingan/status/614820142929846272″>June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Learn about the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> newest player, center Thomas Novak here: <a href=”http://t.co/UpGr5tLe3F”>http://t.co/UpGr5tLe3F</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraft?src=hash”>#NHLDraft</a> <a href=”http://t.co/nvIKimHXi9″>pic.twitter.com/nvIKimHXi9</a></p>— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) <a href=”https://twitter.com/PredsNHL/status/614820699446865920″>June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>"I've never been to Tennessee but I heard it's pretty fun down there." – <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> 3rd Round pick Thomas Novak</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href=”https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/614822555841474560″>June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
A highly skilled playmaking center with first-rate “hockey sense” and puckhandling ability. Creates energy through being an offensively dominant presence. Plays an up-tempo game that can catch a lot of defencemen off guard; excellent skater. Will need to gain size and strength; otherwise, with his skillset, there is nothing barring him from becoming a prolific scorer at the next level. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014) – See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=248374#sthash.vKreA9bK.dpuf
“I think he’s sometimes two and three steps ahead of the play,” [Waterloo coach P.K.] O’Handley said. “I think that as well as his vision [are his strongest assets]. I think a part of vision is being able to picture what’s to come and I think he’s got a real unique ability to see what maybe two steps ahead is going to look like. I think he relishes the challenge of that. It’s a strength of his and, at times, it can be an Achilles heel.